The current legislator, Dr David Parirenyatwa, beat his MDC- T rival, Golden Matize, in the 2008 general elections. Addressing the party’s provincial leadership last month, Zanu (PF) National Political Commissar, Webster Shamu, is on record saying that the party’s leadership should “ensure that the party wins the forthcoming elections by making sure that ‘members’ are registered to vote”.
Zanu (PF) bigwigs have been targeting members of the Apostolic sect for support.
Villagers who spoke to The Zimbabwean said they were informed to assemble at a shrine near Chivake bridge, where all those without identity documents would be issued with the documents.
The Councillor for Ward 5, Marshal Mahachi, from the MDC- T said communication was relayed to the villagers through their local leadership, including Village Head Nyamande, Goso, Sirewu, Tsiga and Nyamadzawo.
Zanu (PF) Chairperson for Ward 8, Tongogara branch, Batsirai Kanyemba, confirmed the development and said most villagers had been notified of the development and had “indicated that they were ready to co- operate with the directive”.
He said while members of the sect welcomed the move because they were experiencing problems registering as voters, most villagers could not understand why members of the apostolic sect were being given preference over everyone else.
Takudzwa Karera (21) from Shambahweta area in Ward 5, said the majority of youths who were voting for the first time, were finding it difficult to register as voters.
“This exercise should have targeted first time voters like me, but because we are associated with the opposition, the officers from the RG’s office are frustrating our efforts to register as voters,” said Karera.
The MDC- T Organising Secretary, Shepherd Zaranyika, said:
“We are working with the local leadership and youths are getting the required supporting documents to enable them to register as voters. For those whose efforts have hit a brick wall, we are encouraging them to come back to the local leadership.”
Election Resource Centre Director, Tawanda Chimhini, confirmed that his organisation had received reports indicating there was selective registration of voters countrywide.
“Such reports pose a huge threat to the credibility of the whole electoral process,” he said. “Targeted registration of voters in certain areas and for specific people nullifies the possibility of a free and fair election.”
Chimhini said the registration of voters was a public exercise but indications were that the RGs office had turned it into a “clandestine registration exercise”.
“Instead of relegating everything concerning the registration of voters to the RG’s office, ZEC should be involved in the process. Likewise, the RG’s office should not act like a lone ranger.”
He said failure by the ZEC to be involved in the registration of voters was the main reason a lot of questions had been raised over the voters’ roll.
He urged both the ZEC and RG’s office to exhibit transparency and professionalism if “Zimbabwe is to hold credible polls”.
Post published in: News